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Arbitration – Construction Contract – Enforceability – Certification to W.Va. Supreme Court (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: May 14,2012

Dan Ryan Builders Inc. v. Nelson In this contract dispute with a builder, a new-home buyer says the contract’s arbitration clause is not enforceable because it allows the builder to sue for certain kinds of disputes, but the buyer is forced to arbitrate all disputes; the 4th Circuit certifies to the West Virginia high court a question about the enforceability of the arbitration clause in this case.


Arbitration – Real Property – Mortgages – Foreclosure – Power of Sale (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: March 7,2012

In re Foreclosure by Carter Even though the parties’ note and deed of trust included arbitration provisions, when the substitute trustee commenced foreclosure proceedings under the deed of trust’s power of sale, both the clerk of court’s and the superior court’s scope of review was limited to issues related to the six findings required by G.S. § 45-21.16. Respondents’ argument concerning their right to arbitration was not pertinent to the six required findings; consequently, the superior court properly refused to rule on respondents’ motion to stay the foreclosure proceedings and compel arbitration.


Arbitration – Power of Attorney – Nursing Facility – Negligence (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: January 19,2012

Westmoreland v. High Point Healthcare, Inc. The trial court improperly denied a nursing home’s motion to compel arbitration since the arbitration agreement was not procedurally or substantively unconscionable.


Arbitration – Best Evidence Rule – Investment Contracts – Document Imaging – Original Unavailable – Discrepancies — Witness Credibility (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: November 21,2011

Capps v. Blondeau An investment firm’s practice was to scan the signature page of an investor’s contract and destroy the original after 90 days. A sample, or specimen, contract was also kept on file. Given the differences between the specimen contract and the scanned signature page from plaintiff’s contract, the trial court could find that there was no duplicate of plaintiff’s contract available. We affirm the trial court’s denial of defendants’ motion to compel arbitration.


Arbitration – Contract – Mediation Requirement (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: November 17,2011

Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church v. Reynolds Construction Co. Even though the parties’ contracts require the parties to engage in mediation before either arbitration or legal proceedings, this does not give plaintiff the choice to forgo arbitration. The contracts’ arbitration clauses are mandatory. The mediation clause can be interpreted to mean that, if the parties agree to waive arbitration, they still must go to mediation before they go to court. We reverse the trial court’s denial of defendants’ motion to compel arbitration.


Arbitration – Real Property – Investment Opportunity – Manifest Disregard of Law (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: November 2,2011

In re: Fifth Third Bank, N.A. - Village of Penland Litigation A doctor, who was compelled to arbitrate his claims against two banks after he failed to honor his personal guarantee, failed to show that the award should be vacated on the grounds that the arbitrator’s decision rested on a manifest disregard of the law.


Arbitration – Motion to Compel – Default Allegation – Recently-Filed Litigation (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: October 28,2011

Shearline Boatworks, LLC v. Trost Even though it was plaintiff who initiated litigation, plaintiff did not unreasonably delay its request for arbitration, it did not unreasonably avail itself of trial-oriented activity, and arbitration would not prejudice defendant. The parties will be held to their agreement to arbitrate disputes arising under their contracts. Plaintiff’s motion to stay proceedings and to compel arbitration is granted.


Arbitration – Motion to Vacate Award – Insufficient Showing – Partiality – Reason for Decision (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: October 25,2011

Fitta v. Burke Where plaintiff essentially challenges the credibility of the evidence and the weight given to the evidence by the arbitrators, such a challenge is not sufficient to show misconduct for purposes of setting aside an arbitration award. We affirm the trial court’s denial of plaintiff’s motions to vacate the arbitration award and to compel depositions of the arbitrators.


Arbitration – Credit Card Agreement – Timeliness – Equitable Tolling (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: October 20,2011

Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC v. Freeman A debtor’s challenge to an arbitration award fails since: (1) he failed to challenge the award within the three-month time period prescribed by 9 U.S.C. §12; and (2) equitable tolling does not apply because he failed to file a motion to vacate the arbitration award.


Arbitration – Motion to Compel – Hearing – Contract (access required)

By North Carolina Lawyers Weekly Staff
Published: September 12,2011

Goodwin v. Century Care of Cherryville, Inc. There were several ways for defense counsel to present the purported arbitration agreement to the trial judge at the hearing on defendant’s motion to compel arbitration. Although defense counsel merely handed an unauthenticated copy of the agreement to the judge during the hearing, the agreement had been provided to plaintiff in a verified discovery response, and the judge and both counsel discussed the details of the agreement.



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